Heater for bath-tubs.



No. ses, Patented Apr. |901.

G. n. nolamson.V HEATER F0,R BATH TUBS.

(Application led May 19, 1899.)

(N o M o d el WTNESSES NVENTOR UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

GILBERT D. ROBERTSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEATER FOR BATH-TU BS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 67' 1,868, dated April 9, 1901.

Application filed May 19, 1899. Serial No. 717,453. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT D. ROBERTSON,

a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heaters for Bath- Tubs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure lis a sectional elevation of a portion of one end of a bath-tub having my invention applied thereto, parts thereof being in section. Ifig. 2 is a transverse section of the heater. Fig. 3 is a detached view of a coil and a convenient construction of gas-burner as a modiiication of part of the structure shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. LLisa plan view of another modification. Fig. 5 is a similar view of another modification.

Like reference-letters refer to similar parts in all the figures.

Referring particularly to Figs. l and 2, B C indicate, respectively, the sides and the foot end of a bath-tub of any usual or preferred construction, with the ordinary hot and cold water spigots a b.

One convenient form of portable heater which I propose to employ in carrying out my invention is constructed with special reference to economy in the use of the ordinary illuminating-gas, such as is served by streetmains or other source of supply, though where such gas is not conveniently available I propose to use a vapor produced from naphtha or some of the other volatile hydrocarbons, employing for such purpose some convenient or approved style of vaporizer, preferably one with a delivery-tube which has or can have attached thereto an ordinary gas burner or tip which is adapted to receive one end of a section of exible gas-tubing.

D E F G represent, respectively, the bottom, side walls, top, and end walls of a shell or inclosing casing, which is preferably rectangular in cross-section and also in longitudinal section, except that the top is or may be curved in cross-section as a mere matter of general appearance. In this most economical construction I propose to make the side walls, the top, and the end walls double, so as to provide a water-space d, such waterspace being continuous, with an opening or discharge-spout to provide for a continuous current of water through that part of the structure. there is a primary heater, which may consist of a water-coil or, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, of a receptacle H I I J, made, preferably, of copper or other good heat-conducting sheet metal, which may be conveniently divided into two sections on a horizontal plane, these parts being swaged into proper shape, with their edges united by soldering or brazing. Preferably the bottom section is formed with transverse corrugations jj.

ff are legs, brackets, or other supports connecting the bottom part J with the bottom D of the casing.

`K is an inlet-pipe, one end of which projects through the Wall of the casing, its opposite end being connected to the end I.

L indicates a detachable water connection of some sort between the inlet-pipe Kand the spigot a or l), as the case may be, and preferably for this connection I employ a piece of rubber tubing firmly and permanently connected with theinlet-pipe and adapted to be Iirmly but temporarily connected with the spigot, and there is so near an approach to uniformity in the discharging ends of bathtub spigots that a piece of rubber tubing of the proper size can be used with quite a range of sizes of spigots.

Z is a permanent water connection between the primary water-heater H I I .I and the secondary water-receptacle d, which is formed within the outer and inner walls of the double'- walled casing,the space between the side walls and the end walls corresponding, substantially, to the water-legsfas they are called, of an ordinary steam generator or heater, which surrounds the lire-space or furnace within. Under some conditions I propose to provide this secondary water-receptacle with a series of staggered partitions g, forming a zigzag path for the water as it travels from the connection l to the outlet e, through which wat-er escapes into the bath-tub. To insure against an undesirable internal waterpressure upon the walls of this chamber, the outlet e should be of rather large capacity relative to the connection Z, and a good way to insure that the secondary receptacle shall be kept full of water, so that its inner walls Within this double-walled casing f IOO shall be always covered with water when in operation, will be to make the outlet e in the form of a tubular conduit, connecting at its upper end with the highest point of said receptacle, as is indicated in Fig. l.

As represented in Fig. 3, M m m indicate a gas-burning appliance within the combustion-chamber, it consisting in the illustration given of simply a straight gas-pipe M, with a series of small jets m m, properly disposed be- I lov:r and in reasonably close proximity to the bottom of the primary water-heater.

m is a receiving-thimble or short tube-section at that end of the gas-burner which process may be had to the combustion-chamber.

While the employment of a secondary ywater receptacle or heater Will under many circumstances be found desirable, both on account of the increased eiciency of the apparatus and also as regards economy of gas, yet I do not wish to be limited to the construction shown, because the space between the double walls might be filled with some non-conductor of heat, or some or all of the walls might be made of a single thickness of metal and a desirable construction insured.

The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood without further description.

O represents a hanger, preferably in the form of a chain, adapted to suspend the apparatus from one or both of the bath-tub spigots, which are strong enough for that purpose; but of course other means of support-v ing the apparatus within the bath-tub or at a short distance above it may be employed, together with a suitable length and arrange-y ment ofthe detachable and flexible water and gas connections.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modied form of primary Water-heater, consisting of a pipe or. tube bent or formed into a series of parallel and closely-adjacent convolutions P, disposed in vertical planes, with proper inlet and outlet l water connections, which are or may be substantially like those indicated at L Z.' Preferably the pipe or tube P is` considerably attened or oval in cross-section, so as to pro vide a relatively large heating-surface in comparison with its water capacity.

In Fig. 4 is vshown another form of the primary heater, which consists of a pipe or tube Q, formed into a seriesV of concentric coils or convolutions disposed in one or more horizontal series or planes, the pipe of the gasf burning appliance being preferably disposed in a corresponding series of convolutions.

In Fig. 5 the water pipe or tube R of the primary heater is represented as being bent into zigzag shape, with preferably a corresponding series of bends in the gas-pipe.

Having thus described the best mode now known to me for carrying my invention into practical operation, I will say that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown, as many modifications thereof will readily suggest themselves to a person skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of my improvement or going outside its scope.

What I claim isl. A heater for a bath-tub comprising a portable casing, means for suspending the same within the tub, a burner arranged within the casing, Iiexible fuel connections for the burner, a water-heater arranged within the casing in proximity to the burner, and iiexible water connectionsl for the said waterheater, substantially as set forth.

2. A heater for a bath-tub, comprising a portable casing, a hanger attached to the casing and adapted to be easily applied to or removed from the spigot of va bath-tub, whereby the casing may be suspended therefrom, a burner arranged within the casing, flexible fuel connections therefor, a primary water-heater arranged within the casing in proximity to the burner, flexible Water connections between said heater and the spigot, a water-space in the walls.of the casing connected with the primary heater, and a discharge-pipe connected with the said Waterspace, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

` GILBERT D. ROBERTSON. Witnesses: y

EDWARD S. BEACH, E. A. ALLEN.

IOO 

